In yesterday’s blog I mentioned about our massive energy bills.
A result of both getting a bit behind via a too low monthly DD and the increase in costs.
Looking at the half hour breakdown of usage on the app, we were both flabbergasted to see how much we were using at times.
Way more than I’d have guessed.
So we looked at some easy ways to get usage down.
And there are little parallels in each of them that might help you.
A – Turning stuff off more.
Sounds obvious, but we reckon we can half the usage of some things just by being more attentive to not having lights and other electrical items on when they’re not needed (especially when we leave the room).
In the same way many of us could easily half our calorie consumption in some areas just by being a bit more attentive – just one biscuit, rather than two or three and the like.
All pretty obvious, we know.
But knocking £2 a day off our bill for a barely noticeable change will leave us over £700 a year better off.
And knocking 200 calories a day off for barely noticeable change would, all else being equal, would lose us a stone and a half of body fat.
B – Not reducing enjoyment
We’ve made it clear to the kids that this drive to reduce usage doesn’t mean anyone is going to “miss out”.
We want to do something we enjoy, we’ll do it.
No one is getting less X-Box or TV time or less nice baths.
We’re just driving down the ‘waste’ around that.
And we can still socialise and have a great time – just make some better choices whilst we’re doing it and in the time around it.
C – Having a clear benefit
My eldest son turn 14 the other day.
After this year, we have four more summers before he’s likely to go off to Uni or whatever else he decides to do.
After the last few years especially, we’re really conscious of making sure we get some great holidays and amazing experiences in as a family.
We’ve got some air miles that needs using up so are planning on an extra holiday next year to somewhere particularly nice and memorable.
But, outside of the flights being covered, we can’t really afford that right now.
So we’ve got the kids on board with making these energy (and other) savings by putting the savings directly into a holiday fund account.
Bills come in £100 less one month?
That’s £100 in the holiday fund.
Offer the kids a special treat and they choose ‘make your own pizzas’ from Sainsbury’s over Dominoes, then the difference goes in the holiday fund.
And so on.
If the benefit of a decision is too distant and / or vague, it’s hard to get motivated by it.
“Having more money” is great but a bit wishy washy.
“More inheritance” is, hopefully, so far away, they’re not going to get enthused by it.
Feeling better at some point or looking better on the beach in six months time are great, but often somewhat overruled by the temptation to skip a workout and do something else and / or eat that tasty looking thing in front of us.
An extra holiday next year is something specific and proximate enough that we can all be up for making the decisions that will make it happen.
And feeling better, having more energy and being in a better mood TODAY, is a result that’s much more likely to shape the decision in front of us.
As with any changes to what we do, there are different ways to go about them.
We can set those changes up be stuff we think we “ought to”, “need to” or “should” do and that require willpower (checking www.myrise.co.uk/apply if that’s how you usually feel about getting in better shape and you want to change that).
Or we can set them up in a way that will be relatively easy and something we feel enthused to do!
Much love,
Jon ‘How do you turn a duck in a famous soul singer? Put it in the oven until it’s Bill Withers’ Hall
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RISE in Macclesfield was established in 2012 and specialise in Group Personal Training weight loss programmes for those that don’t like the gym and find diets boring and restrictive!
